Balenciaga Set The Skiwear Standard

Demna is no stranger to performance wear. Since his debut as creative director of Balenciaga in 2016, the innovator has been reimagining sportswear staples from football jerseys to motocross suits into covetable ready-to-wear, leaving the fashion industry yearning for physical activity like never before. Just in time for those upcoming winter holidays, Balenciaga heads to the mountaintop with the introduction of their very first skiwear collection.

The Balenciaga Skiwear collection takes all the tropes that define Demna’s collections and reimagines them for the slopes. This includes playfully oversized proportions of puffer jackets and cargo trousers. Of course, to be able to survive those black diamond runs the collection is comprised of membrane-bonded technical ripstop and a ventilation system that ensures comfort all day long. While aesthetics have long dominated Balenciaga’s ready-to-wear, this collection prioritises practicality with innovative materials used for visibility, insulation, and aerodynamics.

And it isn’t just clothes that you can expect. The Balenciaga Skiwear collection includes a number of covetable accessories and equipment like helmets and gloves. For the Balenciaga superfans who just so happen to be ski or snowboard professionals, they’ll want to pick up the Balenciaga skis, poles and snowboards to showcase their brand allegiance on slopes around the world.

The shoe-obsessed will also be able to get in on the action with the release of the 3XL Ski Sneaker, a snow-ready rendition of the 3XL made to withstand cold environments. Crafted with a water-resistant interior film protects the wearer from moisture ensuring comfort all day long. And for those looking for something a little more eye-catching, the collection also features the Alaska Boot, inspired by arctic gear. The oversized proportion is created from foam that's covered in nylon, leather, or faux fur. Plus, the thermal lining means your toes stay toasty. Frostbite be damned.

Accompanying the collection's release is a campaign that plays up Demna's distinct sense of irony. In lieu of a Swiss chalet, models don the ski gear (poles and all) on a sunny beach. To celebrate the collection's release, a number of global pop-ups and window installations will be scheduled, further transporting shoppers into the world of Balenciaga Skiwear. Promising to be anything but typical, the pop-ups are set to feature athletic-inspired Balenciaga graphics designed for the collection along with pieces made exclusively for these activations. Let's just hope they have hot chocolate to serve as well.

The Balenciaga Skiwear collection launches on 15 November in stores and online.